TODAY’S BULLETIN OF MARITIME NEWS
Click on headline to go direct to story : use the BACK key to return
- First View : DAR MLODZIEZY
- Transnet CEO Siyabonga Gama and two other officials served with suspension notices
- Cape Town plays host to famous Polish tall ship
- Vale Mocambique’s debt reaches almost US$8 billion
- Lagos’ Apapa-Wharf Road for completion in September, according to NPA
- Dti endorses recommendation to increase sugar import duties
- Mozambique enforces compulsory weighing of containers
- MOL looks at autnomous berthing of ships
- Migration of reefer traffic to containers intensifies–Drewry
- Crew abandon VLCC after explosion off coast of Oman
- Brazil becomes the 33rd nation to join the Combined Maritime Forces
- Nor-Shipping 2019 devotes entire hall to focus on Blue Economy
- Expected Ship Arrivals and Ships in Port
- Cruise News and Naval Activities
- Pics of the Day : STAR CANOPUS
- The masthead image today (Monday) is of Port of Durban Sugar Terminals, Maydon Wharf
SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE
– Have a one month’s trial to a Premium Suscription for
Africa PORTS & SHIPS
After 30 days and with no obligation , consider taking out a subscription for 6 or 12 months to the maritime portal offering news and information of sub-Saharan Africa’s maritime, shipping and port related activities. Stay informed by reading Africa PORTS & SHIPS
A subscription costs as little as R41 per month (approx. US$ 3*), based on a six or 12 month subscription. email terry.africaports.co.za and write FREE TRIAL in the subject line.
- subject to exchange rate fluctuations – if the Rand remains in freefall it’ll set you back even LESS!
SEND NEWS REPORTS AND PRESS RELEASES TO
info@africaports.co.za
News continues below
The Polish three masted sailing ship DAR MLODZIEZY arrived in Cape Town yesterday from Mauritius and has docked at the Cruise Terminal. This picture is courtesy the Polish Association of SA. See below for further news of this ship.
News continues below
TRANSNET CEO SIYABONGA GAMA AND TWO OTHER OFFICIALS SERVED WITH SUSPENSION NOTICES
As predicted in our edition of 6 August, based then on a City Press report, the chief executive of Transnet, Mr Siyabonga Gama and two other officials have been served by the board with notices of intent to suspend them from their duties at the state-owned ports, rail and pipeline and logistics company.
Refer that 6 August report by CLICKING HERE
The three received their notices yesterday (Wednesday).
Apart from Gama the other two officials are supply chain manager Lindiwe Mdletshe and chief procurement officer Thamsanqa Jiyane.
The matter behind the intent to suspend concerns their being implicated in the highly publicised procurement of 1,064 electric and diesel-electric locomotives, including controversially, a large number from China, and involving unlawful kickbacks of roughly R5 billion rands to Gupta-linked companies.
All three will have to answer allegations of breaching regulations and corporate governance, breaches of statutes and unlawful conduct in regards the procurement of the locomotives.
In terms of the ‘rules’ they will now have an opportunity to provide the board with reasons why they should not be suspended.
CAPE TOWN PLAYS HOST TO FAMOUS POLISH TALL SHIP
Dar Młodzieży, one of the most famous and beautiful Polish tall ships, is calling at the Cape Town port as from yesterday to Friday (15 – 17 August 2018). The visit it part of an ‘independence sail’ to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Poland’s regained independence, says the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA).
Cape Town is among 22 ports Dar Młodzieży will visit on its journey. Other ports of call along the cruise are in Tallinn, Copenhagen, Stavanger, Bremerhaven, Bordeaux, Tenerife, Dakar, Mauritius, Jakarta, Singapore, Shanghai, Osaka, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Acapulco, Panama, Miami, Ponta Delgada and London.
Events to mark and celebrate the centenary of Poland’s regained independence take part in every port.
During the 10-month cruise, approximately 1,000 people will be involved in manning the tall ship, around 600 of them being maritime students. The remaining participants won their spots on the ship in a competition which tested their knowledge about Polish history and naval science.
Dar Młodzieży was open to the general public yesterday but not at the No.2 jetty of the V & A Waterfront as originally stated, but instead at E berth in the Duncan Dock of Cape Town harbour, the berth for the Cape Town Cruise Terminal.
According to the programme for yesterday’s welcoming event, two ‘Letters of Intent’ were scheduled to be signed between the Ministry of Transport (South Africa) and the Ministry of Economic and Inland Navigation (Poland) as well as between Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) and the Port of Gdynia.
Although the visit is brief, visitors will have a unique opportunity to visit the ship, talk to the crew, get acquainted with Polish culture and traditions as well as listen to amazing stories about sailing, sea adventures and the ship itself.
“This is an amazing opportunity for Capetonians to return to the glorious age of sail and get an up close and personal look at a traditionally-rigged sailing vessel that was a common visitor to Cape Town in the distant past,” says SAMSA Chief Operations Officer Sobantu Tilayi. “It is sure to be an informative and entertaining occasion and we urge Capetonians to take advantage of the opportunity.”
Later yesterday, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) hosted the Polish maritime students and cadets to a braai on board the SAMSA cadet training vessel, the SA Agulhas. The festive event also involved maritime students from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT).
News continues below
VALE MOCAMBIQUE’S DEBT REACHES ALMOST US$8 BILLION
Brazilian-owned mining company Vale Moçambique’s debts totalled US$7.9 billion during the second quarter of 2018, said the company at a press conference this week.
Chief financial officer Marcelo Tertuliano said that second-quarter debt had increased…[restrict] US$100 million over the first quarter figure.
“Essentially, as a result of rising production costs, our debt now amounts to almost eight billion dollars,” he said.
This amount reflects the accumulated debt of the Brazilian company, which began operations in Mozambique’s Tete province in 2005, and includes compensation to local relocated populations and the construction of transport links to the port of Nacala.
The latter refers to the completion of the Nacala Corridor Railway from the town of Moatize in Tete province through Malawi and on to the port at Nacala.
Revenues for the second quarter were US$350 million, against US$337 million in the first quarter, Tertuliano revealed.
The increase in revenues was due to the increase in the volume of coal production at the Tete mine in central Mozambique, which reached 2.6 million tonnes in the second quarter against 2.3 million tonnes in the first quarter. source Lusa[/restrict]
News continues below
LAGOS’ APAPA-WHARF ROAD FOR COMPLETION IN SEPTEMBER, ACCORDING TO NPA
The Apapa Wharf Road in Lagos that is being rebuilt will be ready to take traffic towards the end of September.
That’s the word from Nigeria Ports Authority managing director, Ms Hadiza Usman in an interview with…[restrict] the Nigerian News Agency in Lagos this week.
She said the 2 kilometre long reconstruction is costing N4.34 billion but would enable the Federal Government to achieve its goals as regards the Ease of Doing Business.
The NPA was working with the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to rehabilitate all ports’ access roads in the country to ensure a level playing field and to also facilitate trade.
Laos is currently experiencing massive congestion challenges with the road accesses to the ports of Apapa and Tin Can Island that has resulted in Federal Government intervention.
Usman said that the NPA together with the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing will develop a mechanism for funding the rehabilitation of the port access roads in Nigeria.
She said that government had also approved the reconstruction of the Tin-Can Island Port access road to Mile and said that the contractor would start work immediately.
She revealed that the Port of Apapa Port had had lighting installed to enable a 24-hour port operation. She said that the authority was also working toward having an electronic gate system to stop touting within the port environment.
The NPA has put in place an aggressive monitoring mechanism, Usman said, adding that the NPA visited the site from time to time to check the progress as well as to identify any bottlenecks within the construction area. source: The Guardian (Nigeria).[/restrict]
News continues below
Dti ENDORSES RECOMMENDATION TO INCREASE SUGAR IMPORT DUTIES
South Africa’s Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies has endorsed the International Trade Administration Commission’s recommendation to increase import duties for sugar.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Minister agreed to the raising of import duties to US$680/ton.
This follows an application launched by the South African Sugar Association (SASA) to ITAC in February 2018 for an increase of the…[restrict] dollar based duty from US$566/ton to US$856/ton and an intensive investigation by ITAC.
ITAC, in its determination of an appropriate level of protection, considers, among others, the domestic cost of production.
Fertiliser and chemicals, electricity, transport and labour are among the major cost drivers.
As per ITAC regulations, the Trade Minister is empowered legally to only support or not to support the recommendations submitted by ITAC.
Inputs by role players
The investigation to arrive at the recommendations is an independent process by ITAC, which included consultation and submission of inputs by all affected stakeholders.
The Department of Trade and Industry (dti) said while the level is not at the maximum bound rate as initially requested by the industry in the application, the US$680/ton will provide the immediate relief urgently required by the industry and sufficient trade protection against the surge of imports.
“The tariff forms part of a set of measures considered by government, in collaboration with the industry in order to improve the sustainability of the industry and future growth prospects,” said the dti, adding that the sugar industry is a significant contributor to the South African economy.
The industry is also a major employer in sugar-growing provinces like KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga.
Contribution of the sugar industry
Sugar production contributes about R14 billion to gross domestic product (GDP) and the industry employs 85,000 people directly, and a further 350,000 indirectly through food processing and other sectors.
The sugar industry, through the SASA, has outlined and advanced the industry-specific challenges that motivated its application to increase the dollar-based reference price to mitigate some of the challenges.
According to the submission made by SASA, the challenges facing South Africa’s sugar industry are largely affected and influenced by three factors, namely:
· The influx of duty paid imports;
· The current level of DBRP (US$566/ton), which is claimed to be inadequate and below cost of production (inadequate margins); and
· Implementation of Health Promotion Levy (HPL) also referred to as Sugar Sweetened Beverage Tax.
· A sugar value chain task team comprising representatives from the beverage industry, retailers, SASA officials, small-scale farmers and manufacturers and officials from the Industrial Development Corporation was formed in May 2018.
The task team was formed in order to identify ways of supporting the industry whilst keeping prices paid by consumers affordable. The team was mandated to seek rapid solutions to the challenges facing the sugar industry focusing on short, medium to long-term plans.
The short-term interventions include a brief analysis of the global market of sugar; monitoring import trends and commitments by the upstream and downstream users.
Medium- to long-term interventions include a competitiveness improvement programme; diversification; deepening transformation and amendments to the Sugar Act of 1979 and Agreement, 2000.
Several commitments were made between SASA and the South African Farmers Development Association (SAFDA). The commitments include meaningful improvements of the price paid to small-scale growers for cane delivered, as well as an industry resolution to deal with challenges associated with current daily rateable deliveries for small-scale growers among others.[/restrict]
News continues below
MOZAMBIQUE ENFORCES COMPULSORY WEIGHING OF CONTAINERS
Two years after the weighing of containers became compulsory, the Mozambique government has declared that shippers must now commence declaring the weight of containers together how this was accomplished, says a report in Folha de Maputo.
The new ruling will apply at each of the Mozambican ports including Maputo, Beira and Nacala.
The measure came into international force on 1 July 2016 after the…[restrict] International Maritime Organization (IMO) passed an amendment to SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) requiring verification of container weights.
From that date no packed container was supposed to be allowed to be loaded on board vessels unless its Verified Gross Mass (VGM) has been provided by the shipper named in the Bill of Lading, to the ocean carrier and/or the terminal representative.
The Mozambican announcement came reportedly from the government spokesperson, Ana Comoana.
“The ultimate goal of this measure is to prevent casualties that may result from false container weight claims,” she said.
The amendment to the International Convention for the Safeguarding of Human Life at Sea (SOLAS), was adopted in London in May 2014 by the IMO, of which Mozambique is a member.[/restrict]
News continues below
MOL (Mitsui OSK Line) said this week that their proposed joint demonstration project related to the safety of vessels’ auto berthing and un-berthing has been selected for Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transportation and Tourism (MLIT)’s FY2018 autonomous vessel demonstration project.
According to MOL, human errors account for 80% of marine accidents, and since automated and autonomous operations…[restrict] of vessels can significantly reduce human errors, MOL believes they have the potential to make a great contribution to reducing marine accidents.
“Furthermore, autonomous operations hold great promise in reducing the workload for mariners and represent a fundamental change in ocean transport. Through this project, MLIT aims to achieve practical use of autonomous vessels by 2025,” MOL said in a statement.
“Berthing and un-berthing are some of the most difficult phases of ship operation, in which autonomous operations would be of great benefit. This auto berthing and un-berthing demonstration project will identify technical issues by demonstrating autonomous operation with a real vessel and study ways to achieve practical use.
“In this fiscal year, the demonstration test will be conducted by using the training ship SHIOJI MARU.” The intention is to trial the technology further next year on one of MOL’s large ferries.[/restrict]
News continues below
According to Drewry’s Reefer Shipping Annual Review and Forecast 2018/19, the migration of reefer traffic into containers is continuing with significant recent growth. The current ratio is 80/20.
The report says that containerised reefer traffic expanded by 8% in 2017, outpacing the growth in overall seaborne reefer trade due to a continued shift of cargo from the declining specialised reefer fleet to the container mode.
The reefer sector posted a gain overall of more than 5% in 2017 to 124 million tonnes, says the report, which is above the annual average growth of 3.6% measured over the past 10 years.
Martin Dixon, Director of Research Products at Drewry, said: “This modal shift in favour of container shipping lines is expected to continue as the specialised fleet shrinks further.
“Indeed the specialised sector’s share of total seaborne reefer trade is forecast to fall from 20% today to just 14% for 2022, with container lines picking up the slack.”
Dixon said that buoyant trade development and tight availability of container equipment in certain regions have enabled some strengthening in reefer container freight rates relative to dry freight pricing.
“These dynamics are expected to further support reefer container freight pricing over the next few years.”
The report says that despite a broader weakness in the container shipping market, reefer rates have held up, rewarding those carriers that have chosen to invest in the cargo segment. source: PTI and Drewry
News continues below
The crew of the Indian VLCC DESH VAIBHAV (IMO 9297498, 316,409-dwt) abandoned ship after an explosion tore through one of the forward cargo tanks on Tuesday as the ship was sailing in ballast off the coast of Oman. An AIS tracking data showed the ship as being ‘Not under command’.
The vessel was en route to Fujairah when the explosion took place, followed by a fire from the tank.
Some reports state that three crew members are missing and another man was injured and was later evacuated to hospital by helicopter. Later reports said the three missing seamen had been found and returned to the ship.
The fire subsided but a firefighting tug was dispatched to assist with cooling down the affected tank. The crew has meanwhile re-boarded their ship which is again operational.
Desh Vaibhav was built in 2005 at the Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea and is operated by the Shipping Corporation of India who operate four VLCCs.
News continues below
report by Combined Maritime Forces
BRAZIL has been warmly welcomed to the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) family to become the 33rd nation to join the team.
Brazil are no strangers to CMF, having had a number of liaison officers work over the years within the organization to develop skills and understanding of how CMF works.
Commander Joao Prudencio Enes of the Brazilian Navy becomes the first officer to act as the Senior National Representative with Brazil in active membership.
A spokesperson for the Brazilian Navy said: “On July 30th, the Brazilian Navy answered the invitation letter from the CCFM accepting the affiliation as a full member of the CMF. The Brazilian Navy considers this kind of event an excellent opportunity to reinforce ties of friendship, as well as to promote cooperation and mutual respect among the participating Navies.”
The addition of Brazil to the CMF coalition means that they now have representation on every inhabited continent and have become a global maritime task force.
Commodore Steve Dainton, Deputy Commander of CMF said: “I am delighted to welcome Brazil to our growing organization. This just goes to show that maritime security issues such as piracy and terrorist activity are a true global concern and we look forward to the Brazilian Navy contributing to our international partnership.”
About CMF
The Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) is a multinational naval partnership, which exists to promote security, stability and prosperity across approximately 3.2 million square miles of international waters, which encompass some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.
CMF’s main focus areas are defeating terrorism, preventing piracy, encouraging regional cooperation, and promoting a safe maritime environment.
CMF conducts Maritime Security Operations, counters terrorism and narcotics smuggling in maritime areas of responsibility; works with regional and other partners to improve overall security and stability; helps strengthen regional nations’ maritime capabilities and, when requested, responds to environmental and humanitarian crises.
The area of operation is porimarily the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Aden
News continues below
NOR-SHIPPING 2019 DEVOTES ENTIRE HALL TO FOCUS ON BLUE ECONOMY
Nor-Shipping says that it will devote the whole of Hall A at its 2019 exhibition to the concept of Blue Economy, showcasing ‘tomorrow’s business solutions today’.
In an industry first, this will see the entire 1300 sq m space transformed into an interactive landscape designed to highlight, promote and accelerate business practices and players that balance maritime and ocean activity growth with sustainable resource use and environmental protection.
The move marks a further step in Nor-Shipping’s evolution, following on from a recent rebranding exercise and revitalised focus on creating fresh ocean opportunities for its core maritime audience.
It is, says Nor-Shipping Director Per Martin Tanggaard, a natural step into an increasingly vital area.
Delivering value
“Hall A’s 2017 theme of Disruptive Sustainability was a great success, and this development builds on that, while fine-tuning the focus to deliver greater value for our exhibitors, delegates and society as a whole,” he explains.
“We are moving forward from solutions with the potential to disrupt the industry to embrace those that create growth through sustainable practices, while improving livelihoods and safeguarding ocean ecosystems. From an environmental perspective this is imperative, but from a commercial standpoint it also makes perfect sense – our industry needs a healthy ocean to operate, while there’s a huge opportunity for innovative technology, collaborations and working models to unlock new revenue streams.
“Maritime is ideally positioned to take the lead in building a thriving and sustainable ocean economy. We want to help our industry realise and benefit from that immense potential.”
Atmospheric and intimate
When Nor-Shipping raises the curtain on its 2019 activity, taking place in Oslo and Lillestrøm, Norway, from 4 to 7 June 2019, Hall A will emerge as never before. Tailored to engage with Nor-Shipping’s 30,000+ visitors, the Blue Economy hall will feature world-leaders in the maritime, ocean, innovation and wider business arena in an atmospheric and intimate setting.
Five key focus areas, as defined in DNV GL’s 2016 report Sustainable Development Goals – Exploring Maritime Opportunities, will provide structure for the space. The proposed areas are sustainable ocean economy, sustainable infrastructure, decarbonisation, protection of ocean life, and the development and implementation of responsible practices. This should create a broad business arena for the maritime industry to connect with emerging ocean opportunities.
New ‘Think Tanks’ will host roundtable discussions and address hot industry issues, while a Start-up Lounge will connect industry professionals with fast-moving maritime start-ups. 2017’s popular Disruptive Talks initiative will be repeated, with innovators from across the globe gathering to discuss profitable paths forward.
Startling potential
Nor-Shipping’s Sofia Fürstenberg Stott is spearheading the hall’s development:
“The Blue Economy hall is unique,” she notes. “It aims to help us find the answer to one of the most pressing challenges of our time – how to develop and sustain growing commercial activity in the oceans, while safeguarding and enhancing their health. As such it focuses on maritime opportunities that support all 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, effectively shining a light on tomorrow’s business solutions today.”
Concluding, Fürstenberg Stott explains: “We see this as a continuation of the strategy which saw us debut the Opening Oceans Conference in Copenhagen in May and reposition Nor-Shipping as Your Arena for Ocean Solutions. We also plan to host the Opening Oceans Conference again, as a one-day event this time, at Nor-Shipping 2019. It’s all about assisting our stakeholders to use their maritime expertise, assets and infrastructure to build businesses that can take advantage of new opportunities and create added value in a sustainable way.
“There are obviously challenges ahead for our industry, but there’s also startling potential for responsible growth. Hall A will help the industry understand, prepare for, and act upon that.”
Nor-Shipping is aiming to attract a wide variety of exhibitors to the Blue Economy space, including business cluster organisations, start-ups, venture capitalists and companies from segments including digital and data innovation, smart logistics, alternative fuels, recycling, cybersecurity, and cross industry collaboration, amongst others.
Alongside Hall A’s focus on Blue Economy, the other halls will feature:
* IT & Navigation in Hall B
* Safety & Rescue in Hall C
* Shipbuilding & Repair in Hall D
* Maritime Services & Logistics in Hall E
* Propulsion & Machinery in Hall E
For further details please contact: Sofia Fürstenberg Stott at sf@nor-shipping.com
News continues below
GENERAL NEWS REPORTS – UPDATED THROUGH THE DAY
in partnership with – APO
News continues below
TO ADVERTISE HERE
Request a Rate Card from info@africaports.co.za
EXPECTED SHIP ARRIVALS and SHIPS IN PORT
Port Louis – Indian Ocean gateway port
Ports & Ships publishes regularly updated SHIP MOVEMENT reports including ETAs for ports extending from West Africa to South Africa to East Africa and including Port Louis in Mauritius.
In the case of South Africa’s container ports of Durban, Ngqura, Ports Elizabeth and Cape Town links to container Stack Dates are also available.
You can access this information, including the list of ports covered, by going HERE remember to use your BACKSPACE to return to this page.
News continues below
CRUISE NEWS AND NAVAL ACTIVITIES
QM2 in Cape Town. Picture by Ian Shiffman
We publish news about the cruise industry here in the general news section.
Naval News
Similarly you can read our regular Naval News reports and stories here in the general news section.
PICS OF THE DAY : STAR CANOPUS
The bulk carrier STAR CANOPUS (IMO 9228124) makes her entry in the Durban port entrance channel earlier late in July to work cargo at Maydon Wharf. The 45,635-dwt 180 metre long by 31m wide Greek-flagged bulker which had arrived from Singapore was built in 2002 and is owned by Greek interests and managed by Pegasus Maritime Enterprises of Piraeus. These pictures are by Keith Betts.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
“Wars and elections are both too big and too small to matter in the long run. The daily work — that goes on, it adds up.”
― Barbara Kingsolver, Animal Dreams
ADVERTISING
For a Rate Card please contact us at info@africaports.co.za
Don’t forget to send us your news and press releases for inclusion in the News Bulletins. Shipping related pictures submitted by readers are always welcome. Email to info@africaports.co.za
SHIP PHOTOGRAPHERS Colour photographs and slides for sale of a variety of ships.Thousands of items listed featuring famous passenger liners of the past to cruise ships of today, freighters, container vessels, tankers, bulkers, naval and research vessels.P O BOX 809, CAPE TOWN, 8000, SOUTH AFRICA snai@worldonline.co.za http://home.worldonline.co.za/~snai
|
| South Africa’s most comprehensive Directory of Maritime Services will shortly be listed on this site. Please advise if you’d like your company to be included. To sign up for a free listing contact info@africaports.co.za or register online |
